Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office is among several state authorities investigating a controversial master-planned community project led by a Plano mosque.
He will bump into a former ally in his efforts, as the project’s developers hired the attorney who defended Paxton in his impeachment trial two years ago.
Dan Cogdell has been hired by the project’s developer Community Capital Partners and the East Plano Islamic Center as scrutiny intensifies, the Dallas Morning News reported.
The veteran defense attorney from Houston is no stranger to the limelight. His other claims to fame include representing Sheila Kahanek in the Enron-Merril Lynch trial and Branch Davidian Clive Doyle after the siege at Waco.
Cogdell denounced Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s investigations, along with his barrage of social media posts attacking the project, as “gubernatorial hate speech,” accusing the administration of using falsehoods to incite fear and violence against the Muslim community.
He offered to give Abbott a tour of the property or its affiliated mosque, but told the governor to “quit tweeting lies, false information and nonsense.”
Abbott directed the Texas Rangers law enforcement agency to investigate Epic City and its backers for “potential criminal activities.” There are at least five state probes into the 402-acre development planned for Collin and Hunt counties.
Developers say the project will include more than 1,000 homes, a mosque, a school, apartments, senior living and sports facilities. Over 500 lots have already been pre-sold.
No criminal charges have been filed, and Cogdell said the state has not identified any specific wrongdoing. But Abbott claims the group has failed to obtain necessary construction permits and gave them seven days to halt development or face legal consequences. Epic’s leaders say no building has begun and no permit applications have yet been filed.
Other state agencies probing the development include the Texas State Securities Board and the Texas Workforce and Funeral Service Commissions. Authorities have alleged potential securities violations, unauthorized funeral services and possible housing discrimination, charges the mosque and developers deny.
Imran Chaudhary, president of Community Capital Partners, said the project is intended to be an “inclusive community” open to all. But Cogdell said the state’s rhetoric has already had consequences. Members have received death threats; their homes have been targeted; and mosque services have been disrupted, he said.
The legal defense signals a more aggressive response from Epic’s leadership as state officials ramp up their messaging against the project.
In statements Thursday, the mosque and the developer reiterated their intent to comply with state and federal law and accused the governor’s office of demonizing “law-abiding Texans” based on religion and politics.
– Judah Duke
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